The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-07-06

Fors Sumter was fired on the Senate was ~
session when 4 member came IN frnm the
lobby in an excited manner and. catehi'g
the Chairmali's eye, exclaimed, hr- rneSi-
dent. the telegraph announces that the Sc
cessionists are bombarding Fort Sumter
There was solemn and painful hush, bro
ken in moment by womans shrill voice
from the spectators seats, crying Glory To
God This was lhe voice of Abby Kelly Fcs-
Ger. a radical friend Of the slave, who beiIev-
ed that only through blood could his freedom
he won. and she shouted the fierce cry OF JOY
With most Of The Senators and the people
however. there came gloom that none OF
them had ever before felt. Many men were
stricken dumb with shame and astonish-
menf that the flag could be fired upon Not
many cared to speak. and the leader OF the
Democratic parsy in the Senate moved an
adjournment 10 the following Tuesday IN
order. as he said, that the Senators might
have the opportunity 20 so home and con
sult their constituents in the terrible crisis
of public affairs No objection was made,
and both houses of the Ohio Legislature adj
journed.
Before the members returned to their seats
Major Anderson had surrendered, and there
had come such an outburst Of loyalty to the
Union from the North that no member oi
the Legislature or of Congress had need TO
consult his constituents or to ask for insirue-
tons The people were Enthusiastically fierce
..l.
~. enthusiastically in favor ofthe flag OF the
Union
When the Democratic leader returned To
his seat he said to General Cox. The peo-
ple have gone stark mad, and carried away
by the overwhelming sweep of public opin-
ion, he and his fellow Democrats determined
to support the war measures. Speaking OF
this period. General Cox calls 10 mind sever
al incidents which shed light upon what
was partisan impulse before the flag was fired
on. and what was stern, unfiinching loyalty
to the Union when the blow was struck
on the sth of January, 1861, the Democratic
convention or reunion TO celebrate the battle
Of New Orleans had adopted resolutions m
! timafing that the 100000 Democrats of Ohio
would be found in the way of any attempt
to put down secession until the demands OF
the South in respect to slavery were COM
piled with. 4 few days after this conven-
ton General Cox met his old neighbor, Da-
yid Tod. and Mr.. Tod vehemently reasserted
the substance of the resolutions. saying that
tie Republicans would find the 100000 Ohio
Democrats ia front Of them if they attempt
ed Ia cross the Ohio river. To this Mr.. Cox
made answer. I'VE viii give up the contest
if we cannot carry your 100000 over the
heads of vour leaders" This is exactly
what was done. The Ohio Democrats did
not wait for marching orders; they went
over the heads of their leaders. and joined
the Republicans, fierce and furious for the
tiag. and men like Tod and Brough were
leaders in the new crusade
A few days after the surrender of Fort
Sumptor Stephen A, Douglas passed through
Columbus on his way TO Washington, and in
response 10 spontaneous gathering of peo-
ole Douglas spoke 10 them from the window
of his bed room in the hotel. There were no
torches, no music, simply dark mass OF
men filling the dimly-lit street, and the calls
for Douglas were with an earnestness of tone
different entirely from the enthusiasm of a
political gathering. The Illinois Senator
came half-dressed to his window, and with
out any light near him spoke solemnly to
the people upon the terrible crisis which had
come upon the Nation. Men of all partie:
were there. and General Cox, recalling The
impressions of the hour or III endeavorins
TO recall them. SAYS IS remember well th'
seeious solicitude with which ! listened t'
his opening sentences as leaned against th'
, railing of the State House Park. trying il
vain TO see more than the dim outline of tn
man as he stood at the unlighted window
His deep. sonorous tones rolled down through
the darkness from above us, an earnest
measured voice, the more solemn, the nor
impressive because we could not see th
: speakable trial ! do not think we greail
cheered him. II was rather a deep amei
: that went up from the crowd We wen
e home breathing more freely in the assurano
), we now felt that, for a time at least, no oI
e ganized opposition to the Federal Govern
ment and it policy of coercion could be for
midable in the North
e Speaking for himself and General Garfield
1 as they sat at night in their lodgings, Gener
I al Cox says: The shame the folly, the out
rage of civil war in our land seemed to-
great to believe, and we half hoped TO wax
from it as from dream. Among the pain
i, fal remembrances of those days is the eve
present weight at the heart which never LEI
me until I found relief in the active duties o
camp life At the close of the month wen
about my duties, and | am sure most o
those with whom associated did the same
with the half choking sense Of a grief dare
= not think of like one who is dragging him
self TO the ordinary labors OF life from SOM
terrible and recent bereavement"
, Thousands ifnot hundreds of thousands o.
z men now living know what that feeling was
Ii was because they felt sodeeply on the sub
ject, it was because they were 50 depressed
and saddened 10y what seemed to them out
rage and wicl1edness that men entered ia,
? army with the spirit of indomitable, unfaI
e tering courage, and that they remained
strong in the faith and became giants IN ex.
r ecuiion There was no wild impulse. thers
was no worked up enthusiasm in the firsi
months of the war, but simply an outbursl
of love for and loyalty to the old flag. Had
il not been for this unmistakable loyalty oi
the masses, this aroused public sentiment
sweeping the country Ike prairie fire, there
f might have been plots and counterplots that
r would have neutralized the force of the
North; but ifany plans We're laid looking 10
obstruction in behalf of the South, or TO help
of any kind, they were swept out of the way,
and those who had contemplated opposition
in the fierce heat OF partisan prejudice Turn
ed III alright at their own wayward impnls-
Is and Joined the loyal masses
Z
knights of the Switch :" in Ohio.
WINCHESTER, o., June 50.-The Knights
of the Switch. 20 the number Of twenty
went to the house OF woman named Mar
tin, in Jefferson township, last night, and
/ demanded admittance TTpon being refused